Offended by thought of premature healing
Opinion
Posted 1 month ago
Dear Editor,
While reading the July 23 issue of The Promoter, I was quite offended by one statement written in the Pastors' Pen weekly column. The column is a continuation of the stories and good works of the Prayer Canada Team. It is crucial to know that at no point am I frowning upon their works. They bring joy and good cheer to many people across the country looking and searching for such feelings.
The said statement that affronted me, who I am and what I stand for is as follows:
"At this point the youngest member of the team received a "word of knowledge" and informed her that if she would go home and lay hands on her epileptic son that he would be healed."
To give context to this statement, a woman's ailments were healed by the grace of God when she was ill.
As an individual who has had a speech impediment for his entire life, I was once asked by people as part of a convention if Jesus could heal my speech. Hands were placed on my face and shoulders and I was prayed for. It sounds like a strange statement to make, but if I were suddenly healed, I wouldn't be who I am.
Although I cannot speak for the individual with epilepsy in the piece, it is my belief that I would never want my speech impediment to be healed by anyone. For all I know, the person with epilepsy might want to be healed. Or, just maybe, it defines them and it has become a part of them in a much deeper way.
Sometimes people have to see past the ailment, whether it is mental or physical, and understand who that person is because of it. For me at least, my speech impediment is not a roadblock to being a normal human being.
My speech is a part of who I am and who I am going to be when I grow older. My speech has given me empathy for others and I have grown to understand the chemistry within my brain that incurs my impediment. I have thought about what it would mean to speak fluently, but would never want it to be changed.
Although I do not go to church, that does not mean that I don't follow the ideals of Christianity and everything it stands for. From what I understand about Jesus Christ, he had love for everybody, despite his or her social status or ailments.
At no point in my rebuttal am I saying that Christ does not work in mysterious ways. Nor am I touting others' beliefs and saying they are wrong. For all I know, healing could very well be a miracle, but it is one miracle that I would not want.
Before hands are placed on anyone for healing to begin, ask what the ailment means to the individual. The response might surprise you.
Kevin Rushworth
